Positive personality attributes and executive functions among post-graduates

Pages: 48-53
Satish Kumar, Amrita Yadava and Nov Rattan Sharma (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

Executive functions are cognitive abilities that allocate for more goal-oriented and self-directed behavior. It is well-established fact that these higher cognitive control abilities are associated with lower levels of negative emotion and allocate positive states. The objective of this piece of research was to examine the associations between positive psychological characteristics i.e. well-being, forgiveness and empathy with executive functions. The sample consisted of 100 postpostgraduates who are taken from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak by using incidental sampling technique. The age range of the sample varies from 20 to 30 years. The participants are administered Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI), Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Executive Functions Index (EFI). The data were subjected to correlational analysis in order to assess the relationship between the variables. Further regression analysis was applied to identify positive psychological characteristics which predict executive functions. Results indicated that forgiveness, empathy and well-being seem associated with executive functions. Regression analysis indicated that three variables i.e. forgiveness dimensions i.e. Self and Situation and well-being total accounted for 32% of the variance in executive functions. Thus, it is evident that positive psychological attributes related to forgiveness (self & situation) and well being played a significant role in executive functions.